White House Releases Mississippi Record as President Trump Returns: Tax Relief for About 500,000 Seniors and xAI's $20 Billion Data Center in Southaven
WASHINGTON — The White House on October 26 released a Mississippi-focused roundup saying President Donald J. Trump returns to the state that day, listing what it called a record of results for Mississippi workers, families, seniors, farmers, and communities, including historic tax relief, surging private investment and job creation, stronger rural healthcare, major support for farmers, and new resources for the state's defense and shipbuilding industry. President Trump was scheduled to deliver remarks in Corinth that evening.
On taxes, the White House said the Working Families Tax Cuts are putting money back in the pockets of Mississippi workers, families, and seniors: approximately 500,000 Mississippi seniors benefit from the new senior deduction, with the average senior expected to pay zero federal taxes on Social Security benefits; Mississippi taxpayers saw average refunds of $4,018 in 2026, among the highest in the nation; and the tax cuts safeguarded 46,000 Mississippi jobs, $8 billion in state GDP, and $4 billion in workers' wages. The White House said the law made the increased death tax exemption permanent and indexed it for inflation, made 100 percent expensing permanent, doubled the Section 179 limit, made the 20 percent small business deduction permanent, and delivered more than $469 million in farm safety net and conservation program payments to Mississippi farmers, producers, and landowners.
On rural healthcare, the White House said Mississippi secured $206 million in first-year funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program, one of the largest awards among all states; the Administration awarded more than $104 million through 167 grants for Mississippi rural health technology upgrades, specialty and maternal care, and telehealth; and the University of Mississippi Medical Center was awarded $4.25 million to renew its status as a federal Center of Excellence in Telehealth, one of only two in the country.
On private investment, the White House listed projects across the state: xAI is investing $20 billion to build a data center in Southaven, creating hundreds of jobs; Amazon is investing an additional $12 billion in part to expand its data center operation in Madison County, creating 700 jobs, in addition to a $3 billion project in Vicksburg announced last year; Siemens Energy is investing $300 million to build a manufacturing facility for electrical grid components in Pearl, creating up to 300 jobs; BWC Terminals is investing $316 million to locate a terminal facility in Pascagoula; Southwire is investing $256 million to expand its Starkville operations, creating 128 jobs; Hood Industries is investing $245 million to construct an advanced sawmill in Waynesboro; Aluminum Dynamics is investing $200 million to develop a recycled aluminum slab center in Lowndes County, creating 100 jobs; ALO is investing $176 million to open a national distribution center in Southaven, creating more than 400 jobs; SIP Manufacturing is investing more than $100 million to build a production, packaging, and shipping facility in Southaven, creating 187 jobs; Raytheon is investing $50 million to expand its electronic warfare and radar systems manufacturing facility in Forest, creating 100 jobs; Gulf Ship is investing $44 million to modernize its Gulfport shipyard, creating 121 jobs; and Southwark Metal Manufacturing Company is investing $29 million to expand its operations in DeSoto County.
On infrastructure and recovery, the White House said President Trump in August 2026 approved Mississippi's disaster declaration request for counties impacted by Tropical Storm Arthur, unlocking individual and public assistance; in October 2026 the Administration awarded a $44 million grant to expand the I-55/I-69 corridor in DeSoto County from four to ten lanes; in July 2026 it awarded $51.1 million in BUILD grants to improve U.S. Highway 80 in Brandon, expand truck parking along I-10 in Hancock County, and upgrade Mallett Road in D'Iberville; and Mississippi Export Railroad was awarded up to $35.5 million to modernize and automate a 121-year-old swing bridge, upgrade track, and improve crossings.
On farmers, the White House said the Administration has delivered more than $145 million to nearly 4,300 Mississippi farmers and producers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program; nearly 3,700 Mississippi producers have also received more than $147 million as part of a $12 billion national bridge program; and hundreds of producers have received more than $8 million through the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers program. It said President Trump in September 2026 signed two Executive Orders backing American ranchers, including directing action to help producers protect herds from predators and advancing country-of-origin labeling transparency, and strengthening enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act.
On defense, the White House said the Navy in October 2026 awarded a $99 million contract to Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula for sea trials of the USS Lyndon B. Johnson; in April 2026 the Navy awarded $283 million to begin work on the Navy's new FF(X) frigate combatant ships; and in February 2026 Mississippi secured $528 million in NDAA funding, including $53 million for critical upgrades at Columbus Air Force Base, Camp Shelby, Navy Reserve Center Meridian, and Key Field Air National Guard Base. The White House said President Trump and Republicans are delivering lower taxes, major private investment, stronger support for farmers and rural communities, and new resources for Mississippi's military.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于Mississippi州Pascagoula的Ingalls Shipbuilding造船厂，美国海军舰艇在此建造（资料图）。美国海军照片，John Bouvia摄，公共领域，经Wikimedia Commons。 / The Ingalls Shipbuilding yard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, where U.S. Navy ships are built (file photo). U.S. Navy photo by John Bouvia, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
